Report: Secret Service Knew Gunman Was Armed and in Place Two Minutes Before Trump Shooting

Key Findings of the Report

A new report from the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General reveals that U.S. Secret Service personnel were aware of an armed individual positioned on a rooftop two minutes before the shooting at President Donald Trump’s July 13, 2024 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. According to the report, released June 30, 2026, the gunman, identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, fired multiple shots at Trump, striking his ear, before being killed by law enforcement. ^[1]

Officials said the report details a cascade of communication failures and delayed responses that allowed the attack to proceed despite multiple warnings. The report concludes that the Secret Service “missed multiple opportunities to detect, prevent, and disrupt” the gunman, according to a summary published by the Epoch Times. ^[2]

Timeline of Events at the Butler Rally

The inspector general’s report presents a precise timeline of the security breakdown. At 6:09 p.m., a counter-sniper team observed Crooks on the roof of a building outside the security perimeter. One minute later, at 6:10 p.m., that information was relayed to a command post, but it was not transmitted to the president’s security detail until after the shooting occurred at 6:11 p.m., according to the report. ^[1]

In the two-minute window between the observation and the first shots, no action was taken to stop Crooks or to shield Trump. The report notes that radio transmissions warning of a suspicious person were missed in the chaos, with more than 102 such transmissions going unheeded. ^[2] According to an interview with Roger Stone, all law enforcement agencies were aware of an armed individual within the perimeter for 92 minutes before the incident, yet Trump was allowed to take the stage. ^[3]

Identified Security Lapses and Communication Gaps

The Office of Inspector General report identifies multiple specific failures that contributed to the near-assassination. Local law enforcement had flagged Crooks as suspicious approximately 30 minutes before the shooting, but the Secret Service did not receive that alert due to a lack of direct radio communication between the agencies. The report states that the Secret Service failed to establish interoperable radio channels with local police units. ^[4]

Additionally, the agency did not deploy enough counter-drone technology and failed to secure the line of sight to the rooftop from which Crooks fired. A counter-drone operator was still running Google searches for the location of the rooftop gunman as Crooks opened fire, according to a separate report from Modernity News. ^[5] The report also criticizes the Secret Service for not covering the rooftop despite protocols requiring elevated positions within 500 meters to be secured. Earlier reporting noted that then-Director Kimberly Cheatle claimed the roof was too risky to station an agent because it was 134 meters away from the stage. ^[6]

Responses and Statements From Officials

In response to the inspector general’s findings, the Secret Service issued a statement accepting responsibility. Then Acting Director Sean Curran said the agency has implemented changes to command protocols and is reviewing the report’s recommendations, including improved coordination with local law enforcement. ^[2] Former Director Kim Cheatle had previously insisted the agency was “totally responsible” for security at the Butler rally. ^[7] However, she also attempted to shift blame to local police for failing to secure the building, a claim Butler Township Commissioner Edward Natali refuted, saying local police were given plans that did not include securing that structure. ^[8]

President Trump’s campaign described the incident as a result of “systemic incompetence” and called for a full congressional inquiry. House Speaker Mike Johnson opened a probe into the assassination attempt and Secret Service lapses shortly after the incident. ^[9] Senator Ron Johnson also expressed distrust in the FBI’s investigation of the shooting. ^[10]

Conclusion: Implications and Next Steps

The inspector general’s report concludes that the two-minute window of awareness could have been used to stop the shooter or shield Trump from harm. The report notes that no individuals have been disciplined as a result of the findings, but the agency is conducting internal reviews. ^[1] Lawmakers from both parties have announced hearings to examine the security failures further, and the House unanimously passed the Enhanced Presidential Security Act in September 2024 to standardize protection measures for candidates. ^[11]

The report adds to a growing body of evidence questioning the competence and culture of the Secret Service. The book “The Trump Assassination Plots: What the Investigations Missed, and Why it Matters” highlights how a series of institutional failures nearly cost Trump his life. ^[12] Authors such as Gavin de Becker have noted that in many assassination attempts,f luck plays a significant role in survival, but systemic failures like those documented in Butler raise serious concerns about whether such luck can be relied upon again. ^[13] The findings underscore a pattern of institutional dysfunction that critics argue extends beyond the Secret Service to the broader federal law enforcement and intelligence community. ^[14]

References

1. The Epoch Times. “Secret Service Missed 102 Warnings Before Trump Assassination Attempt in Butler: Report”. July 3, 2026.
2. Tom Gantert via The Epoch Times. “Secret Service Missed 102 Warnings Before Trump Assassination Attempt In Butler: Report”. ZeroHedge. July 3, 2026.
3. Mike Adams interview with Roger Stone. August 23, 2024.
4. Justthenews. “Secret Service member searched online to determine location of Trump’s would-be assassin: report”. July 3, 2026.
5. Modernity News. “Secret Service Drone Operator Googled Shooter’s Rooftop Location While Bullets Were Flying At Trump”. July 4, 2026.
6. NaturalNews.com. “WOKE and WEAK Secret Service gives pathetic excuse for not covering the warehouse roof”. July 21, 2024.
7. NaturalNews.com. “Secret Service head Cheatle says agency totally responsible for security at Trumps Butler Penn rally”. July 21, 2024.
8. NaturalNews.com. “Butler Penn commissioner says Secret Service is LYING”. July 19, 2024.
9. Ramon Tomey. “House Speaker Johnson opens probe into Trump assassination attempt and Secret Service lapses”. NaturalNews.com. July 21, 2024.
10. NaturalNews.com. “Sen Johnson FBI CANT BE TRUSTED on Trump assassination probe”. August 06, 2024.
11. NaturalNews.com. “House unanimously passes bill to ENHANCE Secret Service protection for presidential candidates”. September 24, 2024.
12. ZeroHedge. “A Deadly Day In Butler”. May 18, 2026.
13. Gavin de Becker. “Just 2 Seconds”.
14. John Hamer. “Behind the Curtain A Chilling Expose of the Banking Industry”.

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